One of Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield’s top proposals, H267, which expands Career Technical Education opportunities for Idaho’s 7th-12th graders, passed out of the House Education Committee Wednesday. The bill creates the Idaho Career Ready Students Program. It allocates $50 million for one-time capital projects to incentivize districts to build and develop CTE programs, particularly in rural communities where current state funding is insufficient.
NEA Director and Twin Falls educator Peggy Hoy testified in favor of the bill on Behalf of IEA. “Career Technical programs can be particularly effective in engaging and retaining students who may be interested in something other than traditional academic subjects. By providing hands-on, real-world learning experiences, CTE programs can help students see the relevance and value of their education and increase their motivation to succeed. A program like this would expand educational choice opportunities for all Idaho students.” The bill was sponsored by Representative Josh Wheeler (R – Ammon) and passed out of committee with only one “no” vote and now heads to the House for consideration.